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Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Honey Smacks and Corn Pops cereals are among the 28 million boxes being recalled by Kellogg due to a "waxy" smell coming from the package liners. The company is voluntarily recalling the cereals, saying the smell could make people sick.

While the company says the potential for serious health problems is very low, about 20 people have complained about the cereals' smell throughout the United States, including five who, company spokeswoman J. Adaire Putnam told us, reacted with "temporary symptoms of vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea, and reported that they recovered quickly."
The problem, says Kellogg, is some substance in the liner of its packages; a product manufactured by a third party (the company wouldn't say who). The company first noticed a pattern of customer complaints on Wednesday, and issued the recall Friday morning. While none of the customers who have complained have been outside the U.S., Kellogg is completing its trace of the products' distribution; it is confirmed that none of the odorous packaging is in Canada, but it's possible some may have been distributed to other countries.

The company's press release indicates that consumers should not be concerned of serious health problems from eating the cereal, if they have already consumed some of the boxes included in the recall (see below for UPC symbols and sizes of recalled packages). However, "some consumers are sensitive to the uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell" and are urged to avoid eating them "because of possible temporary symptoms, including nausea and diarrhea." The odor was also described as "stale, metal or soap-like" by the company spokeswoman.

Customers may call Kellogg Consumer Response Center at 888-801-4163 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. eastern time for a replacement; while the press release does not mention a refund, it is probable that consumers who ask specifically would be given one.

Below is a list of the products being recalled.

Apple Jacks:

UPC 3800039136 1: 17 ounce package with Better if Used Before Dates between April 10, 2011 and June 22, 2011

UPC 3800039132 3: 8.7 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between June 3, 2011 and June 22, 2011

Corn Pops:

UPC 3800039109 5: 12.5 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between March 26, 2011 and June 22, 2011

UPC 3800039111 8: 17.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between March 26, 2011 and June 22, 2011

UPC 3800039116 3: 9.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between April 5, 2011 and June 22, 2011

Froot Loops:

UPC 3800039118 7: 12.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between March 26, 2011 and June 22, 2011

UPC 3800039120 0: 17 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between March 26, 2011 and June 22, 2011

UPC 3800039125 5: 8.7 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between March 26, 2011 and June 22, 2011

Honey Smacks:

UPC 3800039103 3: 15.3-ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between March 26, 2011 and June 22, 2011